Thursday, July 31, 2008

Focus and vision


NO, not that sort of focus and vision. Not the sort which is espoused by the sports psychologists which line the practice grounds of every European Tour practice ground. I'm talking about actual eyesight.
I have long pondered undergoing laser eye surgery and for one reason or another - OK, mainly financial ones! - I have never taken the plunge.
It moved to the top of my agenda on the first day of the 137th Open Championship. To be exact, while I was standing at the side of the 5th fairway watching the world's finest players in action.
The problem was, I could barely see them strike the ball, so riddled with rain were my glasses. It was infuriating and at that point I vowed to at least investigate the laser surgery scenarios.
I chose Optical Express, a colleague having successful had his vision corrected a year ago and recommended them highly.
The initial consultation was excellent. Well explained and thorough (not that I'm an optometrist, but it certainly seemed comprehensive!), it gave me all the tools I needed to make my decision.
That decision was fairly easy to be honest. I went in there with a real urge to have the surgery and nothing changed my mind. Quite the opposite in fact.
I was suitable for surgery and with a fairly low prescription, i.e. my eyesight really isn't that bad, it should be a straightforward procedure.
It is set to take place on Saturday. I can't wait. It's just going to make life so much easier, well, in terms of vision anyway. Over the years I have become very skilled at putting my contact lenses in prior to playing golf, football or cricket.
As one colleague said to me yesterday, I was like the Ferrari Formula One team changing a tyre compared to him, who is more like Kwit-Fit on a busy day.
Nevertheless, it's still annoying. I wish I had a pound for every time I have hurriedly put my contacts in using the mirror of my car while the rest of the fourball strolled off to the putting green.
I'm also absolutely convinced i will be able to read greens better. Or is that just wishful thinking from a poor putter?
Anyway, I'll return on the blog next week with the final results. And before you ask, yes, I am paying for the procedure. This is not a journalist's freebie. I am simply expecting it to be worth every penny and make miserable days like the one I had at Birkdale earlier this month a thing of the past forever.
• If this blog has interested you in laser eye surgery visit www.opticalexpress.com for some of the more technical details and prices.
By Chris Bertram

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Why there's life after Annika

IN a week's time the leading lady golfers on the planet will converge on Sunningdale for the Women's British Open.
It will be the last Major in which Annika Sorenstam appears as the Swedish legend is retiring at the end of this season.
It is a significant blow to the ladies' game. Look at the fuss being made of Tiger Woods missing our Open Championship and the US PGA a month later. Imagine him being gone from the game forever?
Pretty scary stuff. No matter what we might like to think, Birkdale last week did miss a Tiger stalking the fairways (producing miracle recoveries out of the deep rough).
The ladies' game is however well equipped to deal with Annika's absence. There are many, many good candidates to fill the void.
For a start, she isn't even the best player in the world anymore. That honour belongs to Lorena Ochoa, who looks capable of dominating the game in a similar manner to that of Annika in the last 10 years.
But she will have plenty of challengers. Norway's Suzann Pettersen is a classy, consistent performer these days, Paula Creamer is showing her very best form again and Morgan Pressel definitely has more than one Major in her.
Then there is the Asian contingent. They have stars of past, present and future making their way at home and on the LPGA Tour. Expect the conveyor belt of talent to continue.
Stacy Lewis of America and Maria Uribe from Colombia are two stars of the amateur game set to take the paid ranks by storm.
Do Britain have anyone with a hope of making an impression on these stars? Yes, actually.
Melissa Reid and Kiran Matharu are the two most exciting talents to emerge since Laura Davies and Ali Nicholas. They are progressing in Europe with one eye on America.
And don't rule out Rebecca Hudson from making a slightly late charge to the top of the ladies' game. After a stellar amateur career she struggled initially on tour but is now excelling.
The future is bright all round, even without the departing Annika.
By Chris Bertram

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Why bother with the Olympics?

SO golf's big hitters want golf to be introduced to the Olympics in 2016. My first reaction is: why?
Golf is not a sport short of high-profile events. We have four Majors every year, we have even more World Golf Championships every year and we have team events of different guises every year.
Do we really need golf in the Olympics? I don't think so. Would the top, top players support it? I'm not so sure.
Would, for example, Tiger schedule his year to take in the Olympic Games? No-one could say for sure but unless the unique aspect really appealed to him I can't see him pitching up.
Nevertheless the major governing bodies have united to set up a committee which will push for the sport to be included in the 2016 games.
The International Golf Federation changed its structure following golf's failure to be included in London 2012.
Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, has said golf now "spoke with one voice."
He added: "There's much to be done, but we're putting together the right organisation to get the job done."
The IGF's Olympic committee is to be headed by PGA Tour official Ty Votaw and represents the R&A, the USGA, LPGA, PGA Tour, European Tour, Augusta National and the PGA of America.
Two from seven sports - golf, baseball, karate, roller sports, rugby sevens, softball and squash - will be added to the Games in eight years' time.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will make a decision next October, when they will also decide on whether Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo or Rio de Janeiro will host the event.
Justin Rose is one who claims he would welcome the opportunity to compete in the Olympics.
"I'd love to be a part of it," said Rose, who will be 36 in 2016.
"The Olympics is all about competing at the highest level, world records and things like that. That's what the Olympics means to me. Golf at the Olympics would be fantastic."
By Chris Bertram

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Sandy's mad moment

I CAN'T help feeling that an hour after he walked off the course, sandy Lyle will have started regretting his decision to turn his back on the Open Championship 2008.
After a hot shower and a stiff drink, I'm convinced the former Open champion will have looked out of the window at his fellow competitors battling the conditions and wished he had still been out there trying to do the same.
And I think that's what he should have done. I have always been a fan of Sandy's but walking out of the Open Championship, one of the biggest events a golfer can be involved in, is in my opinion wrong.
Most are never lucky enough to have the opportunity to play in The Open. Sandy, being a past champion is invited to play each year. Fine - but please treat the invitation with more respect.
The conditions on the opening day were miserable but that IS the Open Championship after all. When the going got tough Sandy opted for the locker room.
He'll be back next year and I'm sure he'll want to make amends. In some people's eyes that will take a lot of doing.
Indeed, it might just be the end of his already shaky candidacy for the Ryder Cup captaincy. I hope not - but it was still a mad moment from a very likeable and popular golfer.
By Luke Kelly

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Excitement at my Open debut

THIS week promises much. Firstly, my beloved Huddersfield Town are rumoured to be close to luring our former star striker Jon Stead back to the club. Enough of League One matters though!
Secondly, and more importantly, I will be making a long-awaited Open Championship debut at Royal Birkdale on Friday – and I simply cannot wait.
I have been part of the dedicated and hardworking team (!) at NCG Towers for almost three years and have heard many stories from colleagues recollecting their own experiences from previous tournaments whether it be the Muirfield storm in 2002 or Jean Van de Velde throwing away the claret jug at Carnoustie.
Now I get a piece of the action for myself and the memory of attending one of the greatest sporting events on earth.
Growing up football and cricket were my forte. Golf didn't even come into the equation. It was boring - just like horse racing. Now however I love the game even though I am still trying to reach a standard of play which I am happy with (this is because I don't have enough time to practise as I'm always far too busy in the office selling advertising in the magazines).
I'm being totally honest I'm not exactly sure why golf has grown on me so much. I don't remember having any specific memories of watching anything too exciting on TV but these days I completely adore the sport.
Maybe I am just in awe of how the likes of Tiger and Mickelson make probably the toughest sport in the world look so easy?
Now I'm not going to go on and on about this, simply because we've heard so much about it, but I feel it's definitely going to be strange not having Tiger around in Birkdale. He has such an aura about him and creates so much excitement wherever he is.
Personally I would have loved to have felt that but it seems like I'll just have to settle for that from my own idol, none other than Johan Edfors!
Edfors has been my nickname in the office for some time now and fits quite well as we're both slightly random characters.
It all started a couple of years ago when I predicted he'd win the Scottish Open. He did, of course, go on to win so typically the name has stuck.
Ever since then I've taken quite a close interest in any tournament he's taken part in, hoping that one day he'll make me proud
and silence the hecklers. Give Edfors all your support whether you're at Birkdale or watching from your sofa.
I will be - in person! I'm counting down the hours...
By Luke Kelly

Monday, July 14, 2008

10 hopes for The Open

1) We don’t have too much Tiger talk. It’s a shame he’s not fit but let’s not remind ourselves of the fact every 10 minutes
2) We don’t get too disappointed with Justin Rose when he doesn’t improve (as he almost certainly won’t) on his Birkdale heroics in 1998
3) The weather is kind – it’s so much better spectating at the course and on TV with the sun on everyone’s back - and not unfair as it was for half the field in 2002
4) Ian Poulter minds his language
5) Colin Montgomerie minds his manners
6) Sergio Garcia puts himself in with a chance of exorcising his Carnoustie demons - and don’t forget his crumble 12 months before at Hoylake – going into Sunday (and not just because I’ve backed him)
7) Any Ryder Cup issues don’t interfere with The Open (it’s very possible with captain Faldo in town). That’s for another day – let’s concentrate on the biggest championship of the year for now
8) Peter Alliss keeps well and is thus able to save the BBC’s coverage
9) A genuine British challenge come Sunday afternoon
10) We are treated to even 50 per cent of the drama of Carnoustie last year
By Chris Bertram

Great expectations

WHILE watching the coverage of the last round of the Barclays Scottish Open I started wondering which of the players I would like to be – or rather in which category of player I would like to be in.
Would I prefer to be a big name like Ernie Els or Lee Westwood who are expected to challenge by fans, sponsors, tour officials – and themselves.
Or maybe it would be better to be a Ross Fisher or a Graeme McDowell, who are in the next tier – multiple tour winners seeking to take the next step up the ladder.
They have less expectation on them, but then they dearly, dearly want to be in that upper tier and so the pressure they put on themselves might be just as heavy in its own way.
Or how about being in Simon Khan’s group? Everyone looking at him was expecting only one thing from the Essex man – to collapse when the going got difficult.
Does he therefore have to battle an inferiority complex throughout his round and buckle under the desperation to prove he is better than the perception of being an also-ran?
As the players reached the turn I had no idea. What it showed is that there is pressure on every single player who is in contention for a tournament.
So, while we many not think there was any pressure on Rocco Mediate as he battled Tiger in the US Open play-off, I believe that is inaccurate.
Mediate might not even have expected to win himself, never mind anyone else giving him a chance, but consider this – he will have known in his heart that it was almost certainly going to be the best chance he’ll ever have in a Major.
Yes, he had to beat the best player ever to play the game. But it was just one man, over 18 holes. Costantino Rocca proved in the 1997 Ryder Cup and Shaun Micheel did likewise at the 2006 matchplay at Wentworth that it can be done. Others in the WGC Match Play have too.
Mediate DID have pressure on him.
Similarly, everyone expected Tiger to win – most notably himself - and that brings its own pressure.
How annoyed would he have been to miss out on getting one closer to Jack’s record of 18 Majors by failing to beat a PGA Tour journeyman over 18 holes on a course he loves (even if he was on one leg)?
We all have another chance to test these theories this week at Royal Birkdale. It’s almost guaranteed the final-day leaderboard will contain at least one player from each of the categories above. I wonder who will prevail?
By Chris Bertram